St. Mary's alumnus dies at 106

Francis Xavier Cronin remembered as being 'very humble'

5:12 AM,
Mar. 2, 2013

Francis Cronin poses for a photo during his military service in World War II. Cronin, at almost 107 years old, was thought to be the oldest living graduate of Chillicothe's Catholic school system before his death on Valentine's Day.

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A man who was thought to be the oldest surviving alumnus of the Chillicothe Catholic school system at age 106 before his death in February is being remembered as an individual who was passionate about his church, former school and the Chillicothe Knights of Columbus.

Francis Xavier Cronin, who was one of the founding members of the Knights of Columbus and a 1923 graduate of the former St. Mary's High School in Chillicothe, died Feb. 14 in Richmond, Mich. He was a month shy of turning 107, said Dan Cronin, his son, who noted his father was concerned about keeping the Catholic school open.